On our last field trip to Donnelly Wildlife Management Area, I was able to catch six Southern Cricket Frogs (Acris gryllus), two of which are photographed. Although they differ in color intensity and pattern, they can be identified first as cricket frogs due to the small size (about the size of a dime),small toe-discs,and small amount of foot webbing (4th foot relatively free of webbing - last three joints free), and the presence of anal warts. They also had a v-shaped spot between the eyes, which is characteristic of Cricket Frogs. I was able to identify them as Southern Cricket frogs by the clean-cut dark stripe on the inner surface of the thigh. Cricket frogs are in the Family Hylidae - tree frogs and their allies. However, Cricket frogs spend most of their time on the ground,and can be considered terrestrial. The Southern Cricket frog is a lowland species. Southern Cricket frogs were abundant in this lowland, swamp-forest habitat. They were found in and close to water, as well as jumping around and underneath leaf litter. They are very fast jumpers and difficult to catch.
(Maggie Veith, SC)
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